An overview of the Bui Project site

Project Location:

On the Black Volta River in North Western Ghana at the Border of the Tain and Bole Districts in the Brong Ahafo Region and Northern Regions respectively.

Feasibility Studies: 

By J.S. Zhuk Hydroprojeckt of the USSR in 1996.

By Snowy Mountains Engineering

Corporation (SMEC) of Australia in 1976.

By Conye Et Bellier of France in 1995.

Conye Et Bellier updated its 1995 report in October 2006.

Project Implementation Milestones:

Project commencement: Aug. 2007

Completed Field Investigations: Mar. 2008

Preparatory Works Completion: Dec. 2008

Diversion of River: December 2008

Dam Foundation Excavation: Mar. 2009

Commissioning of first Unit: Sept. 2012

Completion and Commissioning: Feb. 2013

Project Characteristics:

Construction of:

Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) gravity dam.

Spillway

Power intakes and Penstocks located within the concrete dam.

Powerhouse at the toe of the dam on the left bank.

Two rock fill saddle dams on the right bank

Switchyard.

Power produced from the plant will be evacuated through the following 161kV transmission lines linking to Bui Switchyard:

Bui - Sawla

Bui - Techiman

Bui - Kintampo transmission line, new Kintampo Substation.

Bui - Kenyase transmission line

Technical Characteristics:

A maximum generation capacity of 400Mega Watts (MW) and an average energy production of 1000Giga Watts Hour (GWH) per year. MORE >>

Project Funding:

Two credit facilities, amounting to $562 million, from EXIM Bank of the Republic of China and $60 million from the Government of Ghana, totalling $622 million.

The Employer:

Government of Ghana, through an Act of Parliament (BPA Act 2007, Act 740) has setup Bui Power Authority to Develop, Operate and Manage the Bui Hydroelectric Project.

Consultant: Conye Et Bellier of France

Project Contract:

An Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) / Turnkey Project Contract with Sinohydro Corporation Limited of China to execute a 400 megawatt (MW)  Hydroelectric Project on the Black Volta at Bui. View Project Participants Diagram

Auxiliary Projects:

Irrigation Project and a City Project (Bui City)

Environmental and Social Issues:

Based on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) carried out by  Environmental Resource Management (ERM) Consultants of the United Kingdom (UK) in October 2006.

Permanent inundation: 440 square kilometres of land.

Loss of fauna and flora (gallery forest) which is rare specie along the banks of the river.

Social impacts as a result of influx of migrant workers during the construction phase include potential health issues , cultural differences, as well as potential social tensions. MORE >>

Affected Communities: Loss of livelihood and immovable assets for  seven (7) communities (Brehodi, Damsite, Agbegikuro, Lucene, Bui village, Bator Akanyakrom and Dokokyina) all in the Tain District resulting in the resettlement of approximately one thousand, two hundred and eleven people (1211). MORE >>